Chapter 14

Elara's POV

Aidan moved before I could take another step. His body changed mid-stride, and one second he was a man crossing the terrace at a dead run, the next a massive Lycan tore across the lawn on four powerful legs, black fur blurring against the green. Two leaps. That was all it took. He caught Asta out of the air before she ever reached the ground, twisting his own body at the last second to take the impact instead of letting it reach her.

My heart was still slamming against my ribs when he landed and shifted back in the same fluid motion, Asta held safely against his bare chest.

Thank the Goddess, his training pants had survived the transformation. His shirt hadn't been so lucky — what remained of it hung in torn pieces from his shoulders, exposing a chest I remembered far too well from the training field not an hour ago. I lifted my eyes